Fishing reel



Feb. 27, 1934. F. w. RUSSELL FISHING REEL Filed June 20. 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR. Emmi/(K WFUJSELL ATTORNEIYS.

Feb. 27, 1934. F. w. RUSSELL v 1,943,336

FISHING REEL Filed June 20; 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

fIWTfCYfWFZ/SSELL ATTORNEYS:

Patented Feb. 27, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE} FISHING REEL Zij Frederick W. Russell, Vallejo, Calif.

Application June 20, 1932. Serial No. 618,878

8 Claims. (Cl. 242-845) My invention relates to improvements in fishing reels, and it consists of the combinations, con structions and arrangements hereinafter described and claimed.

An object of my invention is to provide a fishing reel in which the spool is rotated by the crank handle for winding in the line. Novel mechanism connects the crank handle with the spool and this mechanism includes brake shoes that are movable into engagement with a drum the instant the handle is turned for winding in the line. When the handle is not actuated, the spool is free to rotate in either direction.

The mechanism which connects the crank handle to the spool provides novel means for applying any desired braking tension on the spool up to the point of an actual operative connection between the crank handle and the spool. For example, when a fish is caught and starts to swim away, the fisherman can permit the spool to unwind without applying any braking force if desired. The handle remains stationary during the unwinding of the line. If the fisherman wishes to exert a braking tension on the spool, he can do so by turning the crank handle a slight distance in the direction in which the handle will move to wind up the line. Any desired amount of braking tension can be applied to the spool up to the point where the spool is directly'conneoted to the handle. If a fisherman wishes to wind in any of the line, he can do so by turning the crank handle in the ordinary way for winding in the line. It will be seen from this that the one crank handle will permit automatic free spooling, will permit any amount of braking tension 'to be applied to the spool and will automatically connect the spool to the crank handle when the latter turned for winding in the line.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification, and the novel features of the device will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, in which Figure 1 is a section along the line 1-1 of Figure 2, portions being shown in elevation;-

Figure 2 is a section along the line 2-2' of Figure 1, portions being shown inelevation;

Figure 3 shows the gear train;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the spider;

Figure 5 is a bottom planview of one of the brake shoes; 1

Figure 6 is a front view of the brake shoe; and

Figure 7 is a rear perspective view of the shoe.

I rollers act as a clutch which permits rotation of r A L,

In carrying out my invention, I make use of a standard fishing reel which comprises a frame indicated'generally at 1 and having a side 2 with a spool 3. I provide the spool 3 with a drum 4, M and the drum rotates in a cylindrical portion 5 of a side 6. 'A casing '7 housing a gear train hereinafter described is connected to the side 6 and to the frame 1 byscrews not shown.

It'is best to describe the connection between a crank handle 8 and the spool 3 by starting with the handle and then describing the variousparts that are disposed between the handle and the spool. v

It will be noted from Figure 1 that the handle 8 is mounted upon a noncircular portion 910 of a rotating member 10. The member 10 carries a gear 11, and, therefore, a rotation of the handle will rotate the gear. The casing 7 carries an integral stub shaft 12, and on this shaft I mount a double gear 13 14.. meshes with the gear 11 and these gears may be of diiierent sizes for obtaining any desired ratio ;of gear movement. I have, shown one of the standard ratios of 2 to 1; that is, the gear 13 is N,

rotated twice for each revolution of the gear .11.

In the ca si'ng '7, Irlemovably dispose a disc ,15

having a flange ldfthe disc being held against rotation by friction. Figure 3 shows how the flange 16 receives a ring' gear 17 having teeth on 'its inner surface. The outer surface of the ring 8 gear is providedwith'a number of recesses 18 having inclined walls and locking rollers 19 are placed in the recesses. The ring gear with the the gear in a clockwise direction, but prevents rotation in a' counterclockwise direction. is gear 1'7 and the gear 14 and mesh with both.

Floating gears 20 are disposed between the ring These floating gears have eccentric shafts 21 for receiving one end of a brake shoe, indicated generally at 22 in Figure '7. It is best to state that the side 6 has an inwardly-extending"flange 23 integral with the cylindrical portion 5 and that this flange; together with the disc 15 beats U against opposite faces of the floating gears 20 and holds them against movement in the direction 01' their axes. I show three floating gears 20, although this number may be changed at will, and I also show three brake shoes 22. Each brake shoe is identi- 1 5 cal, and, therefore, a description of one willsuffice. 1 v v v In Figures 5, 6 and '7 I show how each brake shoe is provided with an opening 24 for receiving the shaft 21 'and'I further show how each The gear 13 "VI brake shoe is provided with an opening for receiving a screw 26 that is passed through aligned collars 27 of a spider 28 (see Figure 4). Each brake shoe has a braking portion 29 that is designed to be moved into contact with the inner surface of the drum 4.

The spider 28 is rotatably mounted on the shaft 12 (see Figure 1) and has arms 30 which carry the aligned collars 27. Figure 2clearly shows how the .brake shoes 22 are pivotally connected to the arms 30 and to the floating gears 20 by means of the screws 26 and the eccentric shaft 21 respectively.

From the foregoing description of the various parts of the device, the operation thereof-maybereadily understood.

In Figure 2, I indicate by arrowshow the various gears are turned with respect-to =ea-chrother when the crank handle 8 is actuated for winding in the line. When the handle 8 is rotated in .acounterclockwise .directionwhen looking at Figure 2, the gear .11, through the medium of the gears 13 and 14, will rotatethe Jfloatinggears20 in a counterclockwise direction. .The position of .the-shafts.21 .on the ifloatinggears will cause the shafts to move outwardlyqandztoswing the brake shoes into engagement with thedrum .4. .The friction between .the,sho.es.and the drum can be varied at the will of theoperator from aslight .brakingforce up .toa force which will actually '.connect the spool .with the crank handle. When the shoes donot connect with thedrum, the spool 3 is free to rotate in either direction. The instant the shoes do contact withthe drum, a braking force is applied .on the spool, and, as already stated, thisforce can belincreased as desired.

When the fisherman wishes to wind in the line, he turnsthe crankhandle 8 in theordinary manner and this will rotate the gears in the mannershowndn Figure 2 until the shoes 22engage with the drum 4. Afurther-movement will lock the shoes .to the drum and will cause -.the drum to rotate .with the gear 14 as aunit. This rotation will carry with --it the floating gears 20 and thering gear 17. vA.movementin.the opposite direction is instantly prevented by the action of the rollers :19 .bindingthegear 1 7 to the flange 16. This binding action of the ring gear with the fiangepermits the floating gears to be turned for automatically freeing the brake .-shoes from the drum whenthehandle isfreed. In this man- .ner, .the operator can instantly free the spool .from thecrankhandle atany time desired.

It will therefore beseen that allof the movementsdesiredby the'fisherman canbe obtained from the same crank handlethat is usedin-winding in the line. There is no strain on the ring gear 1'7 when theparts are locked together because the action of thebrake-shoes-onthe drum is such as totend to move the floatinggears inwardly. It-is obviousrthat the-shape and the size of the fishing reel :can .be changed as desired. Free spooling of the reel .is automatic when the reel is used for casting and :does :not need a previous disengagement of thespool from-the handle. There is no spinning of the crank handle in the event of a strike, because of this automatic disengagement, :as is the case with standardreels. The reeling-in feature,-thefree-spooling feature andthe braking feature are all 'controlled from the one handle. If desired, removable friction surfaces can be provided on the portions 29 of the brake shoes so thatwhen wear takes place, :new braking surfaces can be added.

The spider 28 is held on the shaft 12 bya circular wire 31. The disc 15 is prevented from rotation with respect to the casing 7 by any means not shown. In case of wear, the disc 15, with the flange 16, can be renewed.

The spool 3 is rotatably mounted in the side 2 and in a recess 32 in the end of the shaft 12. For the purpose of clarity, I have shown the gear 11 meshing directly with the gear 14 in Figure .2. It will be noted, however, from Figure 1 that the gear ll meshes withthe gear 13 and that the gear 13 is slightly smaller in diameter than the gear 14. If desired, the gears 13 and 14 can be made the same size, and, in fact, this is indicated in Figure 2.

The crank handle 8 is shown in the drawings as being disposed at the top of the reel for the purpose of clarity although in actual construction and carrying eccentric stub shafts, a spider rotatable on the same axis-as the first two gears, 1

brake shoes connected to the stub shafts and to the spider, and a drum carried bythe spoo and engaged by the brake shoes. 2.1n combination, aframe, a spool, a planetary gearing including a ring gear, floating 1 gears, and a driving gear, means for locking the ring gear against movement in one direction, frictionshoes operatively connected to the floating gears and being movable into engagement with the spool when the driving gear is actuated,

the initial contactof the shoes .on thespool acting asa braking force.

3. A fishing reel comprising a frame, a spool revolvable therein, -an actuating handle, friction means engageable with the spool for rotating the same,-and a connection between the handle .and the friction means whereby upon manipulation of the handle the friction means are first rendered active on the spool and then revolve the latter,the connection including means automatically engaging with the frame for holding the spool against reverse movement'while the friction meansare engaged.

4. A fishing reel comprising a frame, a spool revolvable therein, an actuating handle, friction meansengageable withthe-spool for rotating the same, and a connection-between the handle and the friction means whereby upon manipulation ofthe handle the friction means are first rendered active on the'spool and then revolve the latter, the connection including a planetary gear system with a ring gear and means for locking the latter to the frame against reverse movement.

5. In combination, a casing, a spool, a-ring gear in thecasing, a driving gear, floating gears meshing with the first two gears and carrying eccentric stub shafts, brake shoes for the spool and an operative connection between the brake shoes and the eccentric stub shafts whereby the brake shoes are rendered active upon the initial movement of the stub shafts.

6. In combination, a casing, a spool, a planetary gear system, brake shoes for the spool and an operative connection between the planetary gear system and the brake shoes whereby the latter are rendered active upon the initial movement of the planetary system with means for locking the planetary system against reverse movement while the shoes are active.

7. In combination, a revolvably mounted brake drum, a spider mounted coaxially therewith, brake shoes pivoted in the spider arms and engageable with the drum and a planetary gear system having means acting on the brake shoes for ef- 

